Rationale

• Seaplane: Extra places one loves to go.

• Amphibian: Like to come back.

• Floatless: Worst historical rut for seaplanes is plethora of grotesque drag add-ons developed for seakeeping or just from a lack of imagination.
  

• Bicycle Gear: reduces complexity of tricycle gear and permits accidental water landing & takeoff with gear down – which in turn permits amphibious flights without inflight gear repositioning, as likely required by FAA-LSA.

• Duct: Water protection for engine located in hull;  thrust development characteristics meet water take-off needs (long low speed segment), fits with automobile engine rev. characteristics (no transmission or reduction needed.) Sub 200kt efficiency adequate.

• Pusher: Crew vision, water protection; in principal somewhat more efficient.

• V tail: 1. Frame the thrust of the propulsion,  2. No compelling reason for much rudder (on a light plane with low spin tendency;) 3. Lower interference drag; 4. Experiment.

• Inverted V (or U): An upright V-tail's torque action resists (and hence complicates, wastes, and loses coordination opportunity) the torque direction of the ailerons.

• Drooped wings: Eliminates need for floats; provides strong close base for landing gear; higher floating than hull alone.

• Forward Sweep: Inhibits stall; carbon construction opens possibility to defeat twist.

• Xing angle of wing and elevator: They don't; because of droop.

• Low Weight: Sport Pilot rule; and Of Course.

• High Power: Opportunity for climb record; 200+ knots with Duct.

• Turbo.  Hi-altitude operation, power-to-weight.

• Automobile engine: cost, maintenance costs, moderninity (reliability is greater than most current piston aircraft engines,) power, fuel economy, reliability, air-bag control built into electrics.

• Subaru.  Overall reputation for reliability.  Particular engine's WRX racing development.  Boxer compactness.  Lightweight: ~330# w/turbo.  Continued development of H4/6 turbos. Availability of severe duty parts for rally engines.